Soccer: Leon hat trick leads Canada past Paraguay at W Gold Cup
Originally published: 26 February 2024
Canada booked their spot in the W Gold Cup knockout stages on Sunday afternoon at the Shell Energy Stadium beating Paraguay 4-0.
Adriana Leon scored three goals while Olivia Smith who made her first official start with the senior team added another, maintaining Canada's perfect record at the tournament so far.
It was the first-ever meeting for both countries at the senior level and Canada dominated outshooting Paraguay 24-2 (12-1 for shots on target).
“We had to adjust some things tactically”
- CanWNT head coach, Bev Priestman.
"Paraguay are a good team and we came into this game knowing that and respecting that," Priestman added. "We were working on defending just as much as attacking. But yeah, it was a really difficult (defensive) block to break down."
Leon now has five goals in two games after scoring two against El Salvador on Thursday and now has 36 goals in 107 caps with Canada.
Things started early once again for the Canadians and in the 8th minute Leon had a chance but header on target went right into the hands of the Paraguay keeper Cristina Recalde.
Leon opened the scoring in the 24th minute when she was able to volley a ball in mid-air and it went right into the back of the net. The play went to VAR to determine if it was offside but after a long review, the goal was deemed good.
Smith doubled Canada’s lead in the 38th minute as Jayde Rose's cross went off the keeper Recalde before coming to Smith who got past one defender and with a powerful strike made no mistake putting the ball into the back of the net.
Three minutes into the second half, Leon scored her second of the game after receiving a sublime cross from Clarissa Larisey and was able to deflect the ball into the corner of the net.
Leon completed the hat trick in the 56th minute with a solid run into the box and powered a shot top corner to make it 4-0. Jessie Fleming had a chance to add a fifth when Canada was awarded a penalty when Simi Awujo was taken down in the box but her shot rang off the crossbar and stayed out.
Canada will finish the group stage on Wednesday against Costa Rica and even though they have already qualified they will look for a good result to improve their odds in the knockout stage.
With Nichelle Prince out of the tournament due to a calf injury she picked up in the game against El Salvador, Priestman made five changes to the starting eleven.
She brought in Kailen Sheridan, Vanessa Gilles, Ashley Lawrence, Deanne Rose, and of course Smith.
The tournament is being hosted in Houston, Los Angeles, and Carson and goes till the 10th of March.